TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) highlighted on Wednesday (April 30) that recent Taiwan Railway Corporation (台鐵) accidents primarily stem from human error. He emphasized the need for stricter adherence to standard operating procedures (SOP), and improved training to prevent future incidents.
Taiwan Railway's written report revealed that over the past five months, the company experienced seven shunting and seven improper parking incidents, mainly due to human error and a lack of safety awareness. The report cited failures in following SOPs, inadequate call-out confirmations, and deteriorating wooden sleepers as contributing factors.
Although the accidents did not result in injuries, Taiwan Railway acknowledged the need for ongoing safety reforms to reduce risks. During a media interview, Chen reiterated the prevalence of human error in recent incidents and stressed the importance of SOP compliance.
Chen also mentioned that the installation of audio-visual assistance systems in train cabs, as required by the Transportation Safety Board (運安會), would be implemented this year, with continued discussions with the union. Regarding the selection of Taiwan Railway's chairman, Chen noted that consultations are still underway.